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Sophisticated Style for an Urban Loft


How to Achieve a Classy Interior Decorating Look on a Budget with Affordable Contemporary Art and Wood Floors

© 2010 by Jessica Ackerman All rights reserved; content may not be copied, rewritten, or republished without webmaster’s written permission

Loft interior with wood floors, photo by cthiemet

Loft interior with wood floors, photo by cthiemet




This article was updated on 10/03/20.

You may think that your urban loft is not an ideal place for sophistication or class. But in reality, a loft is a great place to add a touch of class and elegance, especially if that’s the style that you prefer.

Any home can exude elegance and class, and adding sophisticated style for an urban loft is mostly a matter of knowing what is elegant, and what is going a bit overboard. Your personal taste goes a long way when making these choices

First, as with any project, keep your budget in mind. It’s tempting to spend thousands on elegant furniture and sleek, contemporary art pieces, but these will only serve as reminders of your debt if you go over-budget to purchase them.

They may not be as expensive, but by purchasing pieces that are affordable and staying within your budget, you will be more satisfied with the overall decorating project in the long run.

Use Neutral Paint and Wallpaper for Ambiance

Cool and classic neutrals make great paint or wallpaper choices for the most sophisticated backdrop. Grays, steel, blues, and shades of purple make the room feel spacious and elegant, and provide a great backdrop for artwork and focal points.

You can add splashes of cool color to the room with accessories, in shades of red, green, orange, white, blue, or even black. If you have a cool neutral tone for the walls, you will have a larger color palette for the artwork and accessories without taking away from your sophisticated style.

Some would say that cool neutrals in an urban loft make the home look dreary or drab. This is not true, since colorful decorating accessories and artwork will draw away from the cool backdrop, but still provide enough sophistication to make the home and furnishings really stand out.

Be cautious with extensive cool colors though, and liven up gray and steel shades with brighter shades to reduce the look of a dark and cloudy day in your home. Judicious mix and match is the order of the day!

Upgrade to Energy Star Appliances

Furnishings that offer sophistication do not have to be outrageously priced. Glass cabinet doors and light fixtures, shiny stainless steel appliances, recessed lighting, and similar amenities may seem costly at first, but most are very energy efficient.

This is especially true of money-saving Energy Star rated ones, and will enhance natural lighting, making them more valuable in the long run. Such improvements also add to the value of the home, making it worth more should you ever decide to sell.

Finally, wood flooring can be the perfect finishing touch to your sophisticated urban loft. If you are renting or leasing the loft, make sure that you have the permission of the landlord before you add or change the flooring, but dark shades of wood flooring can make the loft look elegant and stylish without taxing your budget and breaking the bank.

If you cannot afford real wood flooring, consider a good quality laminate floor or large tile floor that adds the coolness and sophistication without so large a hit on your wallet.

There are many choices that will make your urban loft look sophisticated and stylish. It is a matter of knowing what style options work best for a sophisticated decor, and which are most affordable. There are many books on affordable interior decorating style that will give you a jumping off point of ideas.


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About the author:


Jessica Ackerman is a freelance writer and works for WallDecorandHomeAccents.com. She shares her wealth of knowledge on tree wall decor and outdoor garden wall art.

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